Match Preview: Barcelona v Real Madrid

Barcelona’s new signing Alex Song could go straight into the squad for the clash, after completing his move from Arsenal earlier in the week.

David Villa’s scoring return against Real Sociedad is unlikely to get him a start, as his eight months out due a broken leg mean he is still not fit enough to complete 90 minutes.

Thiago Alcantara has a leg injury and will remain unavailable after the missing Sunday’s La Liga opener.

Jose Mourinho will have to do without Pepe for the match after the defender suffered a blow to the head in a clash with goalkeeper Iker Casillas during their opening day draw with Valencia.

Kaka, Ricardo Carvalho and Nuri Sahin have all been left out of the squad for the match in Catalonia amidst reports of transfers away form Santiago Bernabeu.

Mourinho: Super Cup tells us nothing

Jose Mourinho has played down the significance of winning the Super Cup ahead of his Real Madrid side’s clash with Barcelona.

The Catalonia club won last year’s edition 5-4 on aggregate and will be hoping they can lay down a marker in the first leg at Camp Nou, but Mourinho says losing the tie will not give him any concerns ahead of the season

“I think it's a game that will have little effect [on the season]," said Mourinho.

“If I could choose, I'd choose what happened last year where we lost the Super Cup and won the league.

“If losing is a motivation for winning the league, I'd sign off on it now.”

It is the first El Clasico for new Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova and he will be keen to inflict an early blow on Barça’s bitter rivals at the start of a season where he will attempt to wrestle back the La Liga title.

It was this time last year when Mourinho committed his infamous eye-gouge on Vilanova during a mass melee between the sides, though both managers have denied it will be on anybody’s mind going into the game

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